Children’s Artwork now Inspirational Calendar

Children with special needs from all over the country converged at the House of Culture for the launch of the Inspiration Calendar that is themed appropriately to promote peace at Christmas time. That message was captured in the artwork painstakingly done by the children and selected by CARE Belize and Special Olympics. News Five’s Delahnie Bain reports.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

Inspiration for every month of the year; that’s what you’ll find in the 2012 calendar, which features artwork by children with disabilities from across Belize. It’s an initiative spearheaded by the Special Envoy for Women and Children, Kim Simplis Barrow, who is currently in Miami receiving medical treatment. While she could not be at the launch of the Inspiration Calendar today, a message was delivered on her behalf by Program Coordinator, Kendra Griffith.

Kendra Griffith

Kendra Griffith, Prog. Coordinator, Special Envoy for Women and Children

“I am thrilled to present you with the second edition of our Inspiration Calendar, featuring artwork from children with varied abilities. Last year’s publication was a resounding success and a true inspiration to all who received a copy. Once again, my office collaborated with Special Olympics and Care-Belize, asking them to submit drawings and paintings from children they work with. Peace was chosen as the 2012 theme as it is something each of us want within our lives; peace within our hearts and amongst our fellow brothers and sisters. Our aim with this calendar is to highlight the abilities of persons with disabilities. I hope that like me, you will once again be moved by the creativity and exuberant spirit of these children.”

Each drawing and painting in the calendar depicts the views of the young artists and what they envision for Belize. And with Peace being the theme, several pieces send a message to end violence.

Christine Norton

UNICEF Country Representative, Christine Norton, who was a guest speaker at the launch, commended the project for providing a creative avenue for the children to express themselves.

Christine Norton, Country Representative, UNICEF

“All children have a voice and they need to have a voice and they need to have a chance for expression and we need to create a space and we need to take it seriously. So this is not just about a calendar or an agenda, this is really children in Belize speaking out and sharing their thoughts and sharing their vision. The art and the expression is an important piece and I think that all efforts that we make to try to make that happen on a more continuous basis, I think in the end, we’re trying to do this, we’re trying to create this world fit for children and a world fit for children really starts with children and that’s why this is important.”

Tanya McNab

With the help of McNab Design Limited, which produces the calendar, a 2012 agenda was also launched this year to raise funds that will be contributed to the construction of an Inspiration Center.

Tanya McNab, Designer/Director, McNab Design Ltd.

“For the first time this year, we embarked on our new agenda project, which we sold to local business and government offices throughout Belize. We got an overwhelming amount of support and Dots Per Inch committed fifty percent of the proceeds, which we are proud to say is twenty-eight thousand dollars. [applause…]. This twenty-eight thousand dollars will go to the special envoy to facilitate the establishment of the Inspiration Center, which is a multipurpose center that will provide day care, therapy and art classes for children.”

Judith Alpuche

Judith Alpuche, C.E.O., Ministry of Human Development

“This is another one of Mrs. Barrow’s projects and the Inspiration Center is intended as a reverse inclusion center, meaning that it is a center that will be set up to cater for children with disabilities, to provide offices and all sorts of rehabilitation services—offices for CARE Belize and other partners and rehabilitations services and programs for children with disabilities, but will also be inclusive of other children.”

Each of the children received a copy of the calendar. Delahnie Bain for News Five.

While the calendars are not for sale, the agendas can be purchased from McNabb Design for forty-five dollars each.

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